Today is National Espresso Day, so here are ten things you might not know about espresso.
Espresso is a concentrated form of Coffee produced by forcing hot Water under high pressure through finely-ground coffee beans. Espresso machines use 132 pounds per square inch of pressure to extract coffee.
It is served in a small cup called a demitasse, which is typically 25–30 ml or 2-3 ounces.
The lighter coloured foam on the top is called the crema.
The word could have three different meanings. Firstly, it could mean 'pressed-out' as the flavour is squeezed out of the coffee by high pressured steam. It’s also linked to the word “express” as in fast, like an express train, relaying the message that you won’t have to wait too long for it. Finally there’s the notion of doing something "expressly" for an individual.
One shot of espresso requires 50 coffee beans.
Espresso is often served with a small glass of water. This helps to cleanse the palate and counteract the dehydrating effects of caffeine.
Espresso is the base for numerous popular coffee drinks, including cappuccino, latte, and americano.
While espresso contains more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages, its smaller serving size means you get less caffeine per serving.
Espresso is regulated by the Italian government because it is considered an essential part of daily life in Italy.
From 2015, astronauts on the International Space Station have been able to brew fresh espresso on board.
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Beta
(Combat Team Series #2)
Steff was abducted by an evil alien race, the Orbs, at fourteen. Used as a weapon for years, he eventually escapes, but his problems are just beginning. How does a man support himself when his only work experience is a paper round and using an Orb bio-integrated gun?
Warlord is an alien soldier who knows little but war. When the centuries-old conflict which ravaged his planet ends, he seeks out another world where his skills are still relevant. There are always wars on Earth, it seems. However, none of Earth's powerful armies want him.
Natalie has always wanted to visit England and sees a chance to do so while using her martial arts skills, but there are sacrifices she must make in order to fulfil her dream.
Maggie resorted to crime to fund her sister's medical care. She uses her genetic variant abilities to gain access to the rooms of wealthy hotel guests. The Ballards look like rich pickings, but they are not what they seem. When Maggie targets them, little does she know that she is walking into a trap.
Hotel owner Hamilton Lonsdale puts together a combat team to pit against those of other multi-millionaires. He recruits Warlord, Natalie, Maggie and Steff along with a trained gorilla, a probability-altering alien, a stockbroker whose work of art proved to be much more than he'd bargained for, a marketing officer who can create psionic forcefields, a teleporting member of the landed gentry, and a socially awkward fixer. This is Combat Team Beta.
Steff never talks about his time with the Orbs, until he finds a woman who lived through it, too. Steff believes he has finally found happiness, but it is destined to be short-lived. He is left with an unusual legacy which he and Team Beta struggle to comprehend; including why something out there seems determined to destroy it.
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